Staple extractor



R. PETERSON 2,351,703

STAPLE EXTRACTOR Filed NOV. 1'7, 1942 Patented June 20, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE s'rAPLE ExmRAcToR Richard Peterson, Waupaca, Wis. Appiication November 17, 1942, serial No. 465,869

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3 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of pushing and pulling and pertains particularly to improvements in implements for extracting securing staples, more particularly staples having cer-tain specic uses.

VIn electric light power line work, use is made of a grounding wire which is run down the wire supporting pole and into the ground. Over this grounding wire there is placed a'shield strip for the protection of the men who must work on the poles', which is made of wood and is in the form of a channel of substantially semicircular cross section. These shield strips are secured by driving a staple into the pole in straddling relation with the strip.

It frequently occurs that the staples and shield strips must be removed and at the present time there is no suitable tool available for effecting the removal of the staples without the risk of crushing or otherwise damaging the shield and in addition accidents frequently occur from the staple flying after it is pulled out of the pole.

The principal object of the present invention is .to provide a tool by means of which the ground wire shield securing staple may be'readily extracted from the pole without damaging the underlying wooden shield.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pulling implement for accomplishing lthe above-described action which is also so designed that the staple will be held or retained by the implement, thereby avoiding the possibility o f the staple flying through the air and injuring the Workman.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a staple pulling or extracting tool in which the handle is constructed to provide an extensib-le portion which may be employed as a hammer for driving one of the pair of staple gripping jaws into the shield so as to facilitate getting the points of the jaws under the loop of the staple.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specic illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a tool constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same being shown in its initial Working position With respect to a staple vto be extracted from a pole. l

Figure 2 is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of the pulling implement showing the relation of the staple engaging jaws after the latter have been brought together beneath the loop of the staple and with the tool ready for applying pull to the staple for extracting the same.

Figure 3 is a view illustrating the manner in which the staple is retained by the tool after the staple has been freed from the poleby the foot.- piece functioning as a Weight to keep the jaws closed.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on `the line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail View of theiixed jaw and a portion of the adjacent shank.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l generally designates a portion of a pole employed for supporting electric light power or other power lines While the numeral 2 designates the usual ground wire or grounding wire for apparatus supported upon the pole. As previously stated, the wire 2 is covered or shielded by a channel-like substantially semicircular or arcuate shield strip 3 which runs the length lof the pole and bears at its channeled side against the body of the pole to completely enclose the wire. This strip is held in place by a number of staples, one of which is illustrated and designated 4.

The staple pulling or extracting tool embodying the present invention comprises a handle or lever indicated generally by the numeral 5. This lever consists of two portions, one of which is in the form of -a solid bar 6 while the other is in the form of a tubular bar 1 which receives the solid bar 6 in one end while its opposite end is. closed by a cap 8.

The tubular bar 1 constitutes a hammer for delivering a bloW against the bar 6 on its long axis and the tubular bar 'l is supported for limited movement by providing a limiting pin 9 which is secured in the bar 6 and which slidably engages in a slot l0 formed longitudinally of the wall of the tubular or hammer bar 1, as shownl in Figure 2.

At the end of the -bar `li remote from the tubular bar or hammer is a iixed jaw il which extends axially with respect to the solid bar 6 which forms a shank for this jaw and terminates at its outer or free end in the hook-like point or bill I2. One

side face of the xed jaw II I is recessed, as indicated at` I3, and there is formed through this recessed portion as aperture I4 for the reception of apivot pin or bolt I5.

Coacting with the fixed jaw II is a movable jaw Iii which has a hook-like configuration providing the relatively sharp point I1. Integral with this jaw is a relatively long extension or arm I8 which is of slightly less thickness than the jaw proper, thus providing a set-back or recess I9 which receives or opposes the recess I3, as shown in Figure 6, whereby the points I21 and I1 of the two jaws are placed or positioned so as to come into cooperative opposing relation. Y

The extension I8 of the pivoted jaw' extends a slight distance beyond the back edge oftheY fixed jaw II or that edge which i's'r'em'ote from the jaw I6 and is positioned a-gainstoneV side of;y an ear which forms an integral extension from 'the arcuate back of a foot-piece 2I -which'forms :a fulcrum for the tool. The extension I8 and ear .20 of the foot-piece are pivotally connected to- :gether by the pivot pin 22.

The foot-piece forms a saddle which is of suitable dimensions to position across or straddle the shield strip 3 and engage its longitudinal free edges 23 against the pole I, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the extension I8 of the pivoted jaw projects or extends slightly forwardly with respect to the two jaws so that when the points of the jaws are separated or after they have been brought together, as shown in Figure 2, the saddle-like foot-piece or fulcrum 2l will be disposed forwardly of the points I2 and I'I so that it may bear in proper position against the pole and provide the necessary fulcrum for extracting the staple 4 after the points of the jaws have been forced together behind the loop of the staple. v Y 1 If the staple is driven in tightly against the shield, the point of the fixed jaw can be driven into the wood of the shield by several rapid strokes of the hammer 'I on the bar 6, after which the application of downward pressure to the handle II vwill force the points of the jaws together behind the staple loop. Y

As illustrated in Figure 3, after the staple has been extracted so that the tool is free to be moved away from the pole, the foot-piece 2I will function as a balance weight to close the pivoted jaws against the fixed jaw, thus retaining the staple against loss from between the jaws.

It will also be readily apparent from the foregoing Ythat in addition to providing a means for driving the point of the xed jaw behind the loop of the staple, the tubular hammer 'I can be used to obtain additional leverage by sliding it to the limit of its movement outwardly on the bar 6 as it is shown in Figure 1.

The saddle-like fulcrum member 2I may be made in sizes smaller than that employed for use over a ground wire shield, to adapt the implement for extracting staplessecuring BX and Lumex wiring in position on or in barns, houses and the like, therefore, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to use in any one size.

What is claimed is:

A An implement of the character stated comprising a handle lever, a fixed jaw at one end thereof, a movable jaw pivoted to the fixed jaw for coaction therewith, said movable jaw having an extension disposed across the fixed jaw and extending beyond the side thereof remote from the movable jaw, and an elongated foot-piece of arcuate cross section having said extension pivotally secured to the back thereof, the longitudinal edges forming means to support the foot-piece against a support in straddling relation with an interposed body.

2. An extractingimplement for the securing staple for a ground wire shield comprising a lever, a pair of pivotally joined jaws carried at one end of the lever, one ja-w being free to swing and the other jaw being fixed, a shank connected with the free jaw and extending beyond the side edge of the fixed jaw remote from the free jaw and a foot-piece coupled with the shank upon that side of the fixed jaw remote from the free jaw, the foot-piece comprising an elongated member of arcuate cross section, an ear upon the back of the foot-piece, and a pivot between the ear and the free end of the shank, the foot-piece forming a fulcrum adapted to straddle the wire shield.

3. An implement for extracting securing elements such as staples, comprising a lever, a pair of pivotally related coacting jaws carried on one end thereof, one of said jaws being fixed, an 'extension integral with the other jaw, and a footpiece pivotally coupled with said extension and forming a fulcrum support in the use ofthe tool, the said extension projecting beyond the side of the xed jaw remote from the jaw to which it is joined, and the said foot-piece being constructed and arranged to have its work engaging side disposed in advance of the plane of the coactlng securing element gripping jaws.

RICHARD PETERSON. 

